Raspberry Pi Projects 1st Edition

There are a couple of things about this book that I REALLY like. First is that it is a good learning tool. It starts with some really basic Python code (an insult generator), advances to something more advanced (tic-tac-toe, from 2 player to an intro to AI) and for the most part continues with this pattern throughout the book. Getting a little more advanced with each turn of the page. (The exception to this comes in the hardware projects, where some of the earlier projects are harder than some of the later).This book also does a pretty good job, most of the time, at explaining things at a level I (as a relative beginner) can understand. For example, it goes into what resistors are and why they are important.However, I do have a couple of nits to pick.First, I was disappointed that there wasn't a more detailed explanation in some areas. I don't understand circuit diagrams (yet), but if you show me a picture of a Raspberry Pi and a breadboard, and what wire should go where, and where I should put the resistors and other components, I can follow that. Hopefully in the next edition of this book they will add more diagrams like this.Second, the hardware project chapters were inconsistent. Some mentioned what components you needed to buy, others did not. A consistent table at the beginning or end of the chapter, including pictures of the component, would have been very helpful.Finally, and most importantly. Be warned! This book is largely a selling vehicle for the PiFace component (in which the author(s) have a stake, if I'm not mistaken). That's a $45 component that you pretty much have to buy to follow this book. It's a great component, don't get me wrong, but spending more on the component than you did on the Raspberry Pi can be a bit of a shock.The projects in this book could easily be done without the PiFace, but because the projects are PiFace-centered, you would have to translate not only the wiring, but also the code (as the PiFace has its own version of GPIO and its own Python libraries).Great book, but be prepared to spend a pretty good sum of cash if you want to do the projects, and expect the occasional head scratch as you try to fill in the missing explanations.

This is a well-written book with a good amount of background that someone who has a technical interest can understand. As an engineer, I want to broaden my experience basis (trained in classical mech/aero) to include more programming and IT-type work. This book is a great introduction to the Python language and is very easy to work with.However, there are a few items to note:1. Many of the instructions include information to install software packages available at the time of writing. Obviously a "version 3.1.2" of some software package will likely not stay that way for long, so it did take a bit of digging to figure out how to find the current packages and debug some of the installation errors I got along the way. Perhaps including instructions on how to find and download the latest distributions would be helpful. (in case something isn't specifically available)2. This book is written assuming you purchased the PiFace expansion board. It is a very handy piece of equipment, and allows for tremendous opportunities to make your Pi talk to to its environment. But, I didn't know that I needed that board when I bought the book, so it took a while to actually get started (also the PiFace costs about the same amount as the Raspberry Pi anyway, so be aware).Besides those issues, this book has been great and has introduced me to things I never would have imagined before. I think it is very well written and is a good tool for the aspiring programmer or tinkerer to buy.

Raspberry Pi Projects great for the beginner to the more experienced in electronics to get you started with the Raspberry pie board for the price.

As a newcomer to the Pi I enjoyed this book but I will need more time to digest all of it and try more projects.

Pretty cool I learning about Pythons

This book starts out with an assumption that the reader is a newbie like me and teaches one how to crawl before walking. The programs are explained in detail and are fun. I've only made it about a quarter of the way through the book but I've already learned a lot.

You can never go wrong with this project book.

It's an okay book to kick start working with the PI

The code examples in this book only work with Python Version 2, not the more recent (and not backwards compatable) Python Version 3. This would be less annoying if the book was an old edition but the author talks about Python Version 3 whilst not bothering to update the code examples.

To be honest, I was a little disappointed in this book.I found many of the projects artificial. I did not find this up to the standard of the Raspberry Pi User Guide (which I expected, since they were both from the same series).I much prefer "Exploring Raspberry Pi" by Derek Molloy, if you okay for something a little more technical.

Disappointed when I received it. The projects were not what I expected or realistic, in my opinion, but they may suit others. Sent it back upon receipt.

These are fairly advanced projects and irritatingly the project source code is not available on the Wiley website meaning lots of typing.

it looks ok but I have not had time to work through it, skimming it has a couple of projects I want to do